Key Relationships Senior Associate (Onsite, Nashville)

Main areas of focus: Fundraising, Donor Relations & Experience, Mentorship, Team Support

Location: Greater Nashville area, including one day a week on-site in Franklin, TN

Eligibility: At this time, we are only considering candidates who are eligible to work in the United States without the need for company sponsorship now or in the future.

You’ll cultivate, solicit, and steward relationships with prospects and existing donors for both Water Projects and Operations, and contribute to the efforts of the Key Relationships (KR) team by mentoring Associate-level team members, overseeing specific team initiatives, and providing some system support.

As a Key Relationships Senior Associate, you’ll be a core member of the Key Relationships team by directly contributing to the revenue line and by overseeing projects that benefit the greater team. Reporting to the VP of Key Relationships for the first 90 days followed by the Associate Director of Key Relationships, you’ll cultivate and grow a portfolio of major donors with increasing independence and sophistication. With charity: water’s Experience Lab in your footprint, you’ll be the primary on-site point-of-contact for visitors to our Lab capable of donating $6K or more to our Water Programs or Operations. You’ll provide mentorship to KR Associates and support the team through specific campaigns and initiatives. You’ll participate in cross-departmental projects as KR team representative, maintaining an open line of communication among key stakeholders.

●      Developing and growing a balanced portfolio of major supporters capable of donating $6-$20K raising $800K+ annually to support water projects

●      Providing strategic stewardship support to local executive leaders and other fundraisers as needed, helping to advance cultivation and relationship management within high-capacity portfolios and ensuring forward movement on key donor opportunities

●      Building meaningful long-term relationships with individuals and families through personal visits, phone calls, and other meaningful touchpoints

●      As needed, serving as the on-site point-of-contact representing Key Relationships and Brand Partnerships (as needed) for visitors at The Experience Lab in Franklin, TN

●      Consistently delivering an exceptional donor experience by establishing personal rapport, providing timely stewardship and project updates, asking the right questions and actively listening, and finding opportunities to provide surprise-and-delight elements

●      Becoming a skilled external and internal communicator, successfully navigating social and relational dynamics, and actively looking for opportunities to connect necessary dots and add value

●      Ensuring timely provision of thank you notes, progress reports, and completion reports for all supporters under your care

●      In partnership with the Prospect Development Manager, identifying potential major donor prospects and opportunities from monthly and mid-level donors, and finding creative ways to cultivate these generous givers into Water Project Sponsors

●      Co-hosting and supporting major donor events throughout the year, from planning and execution to follow-up

●      Traveling both individually and with other members of the Key Relationships team, to visit supporters, host events, and hone fundraising skills

●      Deepening knowledge of the nonprofit industry and industry trends in order to make more informed decisions on a daily basis

●      Becoming a skilled and effective external and internal communicator by honing writing and presentation skills

●      Providing mentorship to KR Associates on specific topics, modeling team best practices and informed decision-making, and sharing resources

●      Supporting the greater Key Relationships team by providing leadership and project management over designated projects and initiatives, providing hiring and interview support, and onboarding new team members

●      Engaging in continued learning around the WASH sector and the technical aspects of charity: water’s work around the globe

●      A Bachelor's degree

●      4+ years of full-time work experience in donor relations, customer service, project management, or a related nonprofit role

●      A strong EQ and ability to relate to people in all walks of life and social status

●      A desire to advance your career as a fundraiser

●      Enthusiasm for the mission of charity: water

●      Strong attention to detail and the ability to deliver tasks on deadline

●      A unique ability to multi-task and stay focused on the big picture

●      A positive, energetic, team-oriented, can-do attitude

●      Proficiency in Apple, Google, and Microsoft products

●      Master’s Degree

●      Familiarity with Salesforce or a similar CRM platform

●      Front-line fundraising experience

●      Experience successfully planning and executing large and small-scale events

You prioritize well and are able to manage important projects, schedules, and communications in an orderly fashion.

You see something that needs improvement and you take action. You propose solutions to problems that will help everyone do their job better. You love gathering and serving up information in a way that makes sense to the unique needs of the team and the organization.

You can turn data and numbers into effective and compelling messages. You are concise and operate with poise, dignity, and reliability in both your personal and professional worlds.

You have experience working in teams and possess the ability to navigate various team dynamics.

You enjoy cleaning, reconciling, entering, sorting, and updating spreadsheets. You find joy in unlocking the power of data and uncovering relevant information to inform strategy.

You see through the chaos and enjoy figuring out how to bring clarity out of it. You build processes that make sense and others find easy to use.

The Key Relationships team cultivates lasting and meaningful relationships with our most generous supporters. They work directly with our community to engage and steward donors who either sponsor an entire water project or join the community of givers who cover our operational costs. This caring, charismatic team is often the face of our organization.

This role was posted on January 9, 2026 and will remain open for approximately 90 days.

This is an exempt role with a range of $65,000 - $81,000 a year.

Unlimited PTO

Summer Fridays

6-week paid sabbatical leave after 5 years of employment

Annual bonus potential through The Pool

401k plan + employer match

Medical covered at 85% + Dental/Vision contributions

FSA + dependent day care FSA

Employer-paid life insurance, STD, LTD

16-week paid maternity and paternity leave for new parents

Stipends for Professional Development and a You-do-You Perk

TSA Pre-check reimbursement

2-4 annual travel requirements that foster team alignment, connection and in-person collaboration

At charity: water, we believe that water changes everything. We work with local implementing partners to fund sustainable solutions that provide clean and safe drinking water to people around the world. Since 2006, with a diverse team of world-changers and an unstoppable community of supporters, we’ve brought clean water to more than 20 million people worldwide. With the makings of a mid-size tech startup, we’re reinventing charity through endless innovation, contagious passion, beautifully crafted stories, and a powerful brand that inspires a new kind of generosity.

At charity: water, we value every background, identity, and experience. We believe that a diverse team, informed by different cultures and perspectives, makes us stronger. We are committed to doing the work and challenging each other to be an organization in which everyone is respected and heard. We commit to providing genuine opportunities for all people to thrive. And we will continue to embed diversity, inclusion, belonging, and equality in everything we do.

Note, charity: water will never ask you for your credit card or financial information during the interview process. Should you receive a message requesting this information, please mark the email as spam and report here.